The Committee reviewed the Mississippi State Highway Department’s right-of-way acquisition procedures to determine whether the department coerced landowners into selling property at a price lower than market value. PEER concludes that the department’s procedures appear adequate and provide reasonable protection to private landowners. Several weaknesses should be corrected, however, to increase customer satisfaction and reduce the frequency of costly and time-consuming condemnation cases.
For a paper copy of this report, contact PEER by telephone at 601-359-1226 or by e-mail at reports@peer.ms.gov.